You began the mediation or negotiation with energy, focus, and drive. You presented your position and listened to the other guy. Now, after hours of back-and-forth, the deal is almost done, save for signing an agreement. But, it’s late, your energy is gone, and you’re focused on driving home.
Wait! Don’t leave yet! “Don’t put off for tomorrow what can (and should) be done today.”
Someone else like you recently succeeded on a simple, two-page “Term Sheet” at the end of a single-day, 12-hour mediation. That Term Sheet was the best thing between efficiently winning a multi-million dollar dispute and potentially losing in litigation.
Next time you close a deal, get the essential terms on paper and signed by all parties before it’s Miller Time. Essential terms may include: price, time for payment, releases, warranties, confidentiality terms, and signatures. You’ll avoid headaches and needless cost when you do.
If possible, draft an agreement among all parties before the mediation or negotiation session begins so you’re not doing it with a foggy head in the wee hours of the morning.
Adding Terms to a Government Contract without Saying So
Imagine an incredulous Contractor asking, “Show me in the Contract where it says I’m supposed to do X?” The Government Contracting Officer smugly answers, “even though the Contract doesn’t say so, you must do it anyway.” Is that even possible, when, how?
Differing Site Conditions: When the Part Does Not Equal the Whole
If all apples are fruit, then why are all fruit not apples?
Forum Selection Can Be a Home-Court Advantage
I promise that any disputes between us will be argued at your house. Time passes and a dispute begins to brew. Now, I want to argue at my house, not at yours. You pay costs to argue at my house that you wouldn’t have incurred had I done as agreed. Should I have to reimburse your costs?
No-Damage-for-Delay and Owner-Related Dispute Clauses are No Defense to Surety Liability Under Miller Act
Prime Government Contractors - you may need to update your interim payment waivers.
Contractual Fairness is Whatever the Parties’ Agreed
When you know a current action or inaction is wrong, but you do not object, should you be allowed to object later?
Which Comes First – Specifications or Drawings?
Sometimes it's not better to ask for forgiveness after-the-fact.
Government Contract Claims: When Appeal is Rejection of Settlement
Without a reservation of rights, appealing a Contracting Officer’s Final Decision is a rejection of any offer of payment or settlement included therein. So, the contractor had only three options.
Linking Obligations
If you want to bind the subcontractor to the prime in every way the same as the prime is bound to the owner, then the incorporation clause of the subcontract should be: . . .
Termination of Government Contracts for Convenience (T4C)
Imagine you’re a Government Contractor under a firm, fixed-price contract and you’ve done nothing wrong. Nevertheless, the Government has decided to unilaterally end its contract with you. Yes, the Government can do this...
